What is a Representative Government?

What?
The United States of America is a representative government. Share with students that in a representative government:

• The power is held by the people.
• The people give power to leaders they elect to represent them.
• The representatives are responsible for helping all people.

Why?
Ask students the following questions:
1. As colonies under Great Britain, what type of government was followed?
2. Why did the founders of the USA choose a representative government?
3. What are the advantages of a representative government?
Some advantages are:
• That they believed it was fair. If they did not agree with the choices representatives were making, they could elect others in the next election.
• Everyone has a voice.
• Laws made would help everyone.
• People would have greater freedom.

Who?
Discuss with students that there are many types of elected officials in government. People are elected to do very specific jobs.
Ask the students:
1. What types of jobs do we elect people to?
2. Who represents you?
3. How did they get their jobs?

What is best for everyone?
Working in small groups, ask students to discuss the following questions and give examples. Ask each group to explain their answers to the class.
1. How do you decide what is good for everyone?
2. When should you give up your own interests to do something for everyone?
3. When do you think you should try to help others instead of just doing what you want?
4. When do you think you should do something for yourself instead of helping others?
5. What happens if people disagree about what is best for everyone? Has this happened before? When might this happen? How can a disagreement be settled?